Giorgia Meloni completed her two-day visit to the Persian Gulf on Saturday, with stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, following Friday's visit to Saudi Arabia for consultations on the area's security and energy supplies from the region, blocked by the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Prime Minister was received in Doha by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, with whom she discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war in the Middle East. Italy, like other countries, has recently suffered a cut in gas supplies due to the damage suffered by the Emirate during Iranian attacks.
In this regard, Meloni offered Italy's readiness to rehabilitate the local energy infrastructure and urged urgent cooperation to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Other topics touched upon in the meetings included joint investments in security and defence, in critical infrastructure and in the management of migratory phenomena in the Mediterranean routes.
First visit by an EU, G20 and NATO leader since the war started
The last stop of the surprise tour in the Gulf was the United Arab Emirates, where Meloni expressed to President Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Italy's "strong closeness to a friendly nation, victim of continuous attacks by Iran" and gratitude "for the support received in the repatriation operations of tourists in transit and of the thousands of Italian citizens present in the Emirates at the beginning of the conflict".
The two leaders discussed the same agenda brought to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. On Friday, the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, discussed with the premier the defensive military assistance provided by Italy and the prospects of the conflict involving Iran and the ongoing efforts for a diplomatic solution.
The meeting in Jeddah also focussed on how to secure energy supplies and reduce the impact of the crisis on businesses and citizens.
Meloni's was the first visit to the region by an EU, G20 and NATO leader since the start of the war on 28 February. It was a strong choice, desired by the Italian Prime Minister and kept confidential until the last minute for security reasons, given the continuing bombing by Iran of those countries.
In Italy, the mission was criticised by the Democratic Party and the Green Left Alliance, while the leader of Italia Viva and former prime minister, Matteo Renzi, spoke of a "politically intelligent choice", even though "difficult months lie ahead".
